Kolams, Code and Culture- Towards a universal pattern language

[purplecat24]

Chinatown.js Talk Submission

Talk Title: Kolams, code and culture- Towards a universal pattern langauge

Talk Description: What if pattern systems could speak across cultures without needing translation?
This talk explores how a traditional design systems like Kolams can encode rich, algorithmic logic that connects with other global practices like Islamic geometry and Truchet Tiles. By treating these cultural patterns as knowledge systems rather than artifacts of the past, we can use technology not to explain or flatten them, but to open new pathways for shared learning and creative collaboration. This will be accompanied by breaking down the algorithm that exists in processes as code blocks followed by a demonstration of codified patterns and cross cultural pattern making.

Name: LAV

Pronouns: she/her

Instagram Handle (optional): https://www.instagram.com/lav.the.artist/

Website (optional): https://2025.algorithmicpattern.org/proceedings/S9NXAC/paper.html

[purplecat24]

This was the last talk I gave on the topic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewxGPTpWhow

[elieandersen]

Hi LAV! Thanks so much for submitting to ChinatownJS.

We'd love for you to present this talk at next week's event (12/02 at 7PM). Could you please confirm your availability and send over a headshot I can use for promotion to ctjs@sanctuary.computer?

Feel free to bring along your friends or anyone who might be interested, and come as early as you like on event day — You can work from Index, if you like! We'll ask all presenters to arrive by 6:15PM to have a bite and tech check before everyone else arrives.

Thank you so much!